Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, in her office on Dec. 23, 2022. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer.
One of the architects of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party’s historic 2023 legislative session, Sen. Kari Dziedzic of Minneapolis, died on Dec. 27 of ovarian cancer. She was 62.
As majority leader, Dziedzic shepherded through the Senate dozens of DFL priorities that had long been stymied by divided government — while working from home, battling cancer, with just a one-seat majority in the chamber.
For 12 years, she represented northeast Minneapolis — where she was born and raised — in the state Senate.
“Her talents as a consequential and thoughtful leader made us all better legislators, and her examples of kindness, humor and selflessness made us all better people,” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a statement. “She was an uncommon leader and touched us all in a great many ways.”
Dziedzic’s seat will be vacant at the start of the 2025 session in January, leaving the Senate tied 33-33. The governor will call a special election to fill the seat in the safe DFL district, though a timeline has not yet been announced.